In exchange for Pondexter, a 2018 second-rounder, and cash, the Bulls are sending the Pelicans the draft rights to Ater Majok, according to Brett Martel of The Associated Press (Twitter link). Majok, a 2011 pick who is currently playing in Lebanon, had his rights traded from the Lakers to Chicago in last summer’s Jose Calderon swap.

AUGUST 31, 4:52pm: There has been a clarification regarding the trade courtesy of CSN Chicago’s Vincent Goodwill. The Bulls will receive Pondexter and a 2018 second-pick, as well as cash.

4:44pm: The Bulls and Pelicans are finalizing a trade that would send Quincy Pondexter to Chicago for a second-round draft pick, Shams Charania of The Vertical tweets. An update, however, suggests that it will be New Orleans giving up the pick in addition to Pondexter.

Pondexter hasn’t seen NBA action since 2014/15 when he started 28 games for the Pelicans and 30 contests total. Since then, he’s struggled through a particularly troublesome knee injury, his health remaining in limbo ahead of the 2017/18 season.

While the Bulls may end up ultimately waiving Pondexter, the second-round pick will serve them well as they navigate a long anticipated rebuild. The addition of Pondexter’s $3.9MM contract will presumably be absorbed into Chicago’s $15.3MM trade exception, Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets.

We had previously identified Pondexter as a candidate to be waived and stretched before the August 31 deadline, particularly given New Orleans’ proximity to the tax line. However, by finding a trade partner for the veteran swingman, the Pelicans will avoid carrying his cap hit in 2017/18 or stretching it across the next three seasons.

7 thoughts on “Pelicans Trade Quincy Pondexter To Bulls”

I know Q hasn’t/might not play – but he’ll play a whole lot more than a second rounder from NEXT YEAR’s draft… Jeez, the Pels need shooting and wings… Freeing up cash for Gerald Green? Hopefully not Shabazz Muhammed – another lane clogger. The Pels are basically gonna be last season’s Kings, only difference being a perplexed Brow

So, I’m assuming the Bulls pick going to NO will be highly protected, and the one going back will be unprotected.

I guess the create a trade exception, but this doesn’t bring them below the cap. Not sure I understand why they’re doing this, other than maybe they have another deal up their sleeves and needed the exception. Doesn’t look like they have 15 guaranteed deals in camp, and it doesn’t help avoid the luxury tax line.

Also, QP will just be waived by the Bulls, so it is neither here nor there…The trade was made by the Bulls to just collect an extra 2nd rounder, and the Pelicans made the trade to save some cap space and add some financial flexibility…